To be pissed off with myself re Bounty - help me take action

[WhatWillSantaBring]

I knew it was coming! I know my rights! I'm a lawyer, FFS, and I still got conned into giving my bastard details to the bounty woman in hopsital following the birth of my DC2.

However, I was sufficiently lucid to clearly think - "it's ok, I have not been asked to consent to marketing". My sketchy knowledge of the DPA is that they are now therefore in breach of it, as my details have been sold to third parties. Anyone want to help me with how I make a complaint to the ICO? Or maybe this is a campaign for Which? (I'm a member)

Or will a complaint do nothing. These bastards must be stopped!

People would be outraged if sales reps were stalking the orthopaedic ward, or the dialysis unit. And rightly so.

I hate how they trundle around wards dressed as someone who could easily be a member of staff. My own mum mistook one as a HCA and asked her for directions to the canteen. After giving birth to 11lb dd who had shoulder dystocia and having my 100+ stitches burst I was lying in my cubicle with my legs akimbo as pyjamas and blankets were too painful to have on me. I was worried about someone seeing me but the mw kindly made me a NOT TO BE DISTURBED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES notice and pinned it to my curtain. Minutes later a head comes around the curtain. "Bounty photo lady, Are you decent?" Then the curtain gets half whipped back for "good light". She didn't notice that I was half naked or if she did she pretended she didn't. I was speechless but managed a distressed and squeaky "get out!" I didn't get a pack but I did pass her trolley bag on the way to the toilet and took one anyway. I don't consider a rainforest of leaflets, half a dozen piss pads, a crumpled nappy and the infernal pot of sudocrem to be worth all that hassle. I should point out that later on that day another mums visitor pulled my curtain back and took my chair without asking. It was a bad day. :(

I never had to suffer a Bounty woman (I wouldn't call them 'ladies'). Many Years ago, I had mine at home and the Welcome Baby pack was brought to my home by a rep of Welcome Wagon. I don't know how she heard about new babies. It was just free samples and a couple of leaflets but it really did run a social club for new mothers. No exercising or stuff like that - it really was a social club with speakers at each loal hall meeting or quizzes - all sorts went on. Each local 'club' had a committee and so on. Welcome Wagon died a death .................

"you say no & they walk off!"

Or they stalk off with an indignant look, then burst into your cubicle once again the following day

I growled at the bounty woman when she approached us in hospital, so effectively she keft the building. Wife had no hassle for the week she was in.

Our health board are considering banning them though, still don't see how it was never permitted.

They prey on first-timers especially as more women will be wise to it after that.

I'm sure most people would assume that anyone who barges in and demands their personal details in a hospital must have very good reason. They should be banned.

FFs go read the other thread linked above if you cant see the problem with bounty. I have no children so haven't come across them but I read the above thread "run in with a bounty woman" completely open mouthed in shock at what this vile company employs people to do. Would it be ok if they were trawling cancer treatment wards for patient details to sell?

I am yet to see a nice bounty photo... They all look the same. Just strange (actually I daren't put on here what I think they look like... Don't hit me!)

I've made DOTD!!!!

Thanks MNHQ - I will definitely take this further, as I know they are in breach of the DPA by selling my details without my consent. Regardless of their arguments for having reps on wards (I think it's utterly wrong, but I can see that is just my opinion) breaches of the DPA are facts that can't be denied!

My fucking neighbour 'accidentally' put my address on her bounty form so now I'm receiving all the depravity-related mail instead of her, crafty cow.

I sent them an email saying that having suffered a MC myself that it was distressing to receive such mail and to remove me from their list. They may well delete me but I bet every bastard company they've sold my address to won't

I was ready for the bounty lady when I had my ds last year. Ready to turn her away, ready to tell her to shove her child benefit form, ready to cause mutiny on the ward. But I was sent home at 6.30am. It's like they knew...

The bottom line is that hospital is highly distressing for many patients, with many also struggling to deal with complete loss of privacy and modesty. Adding non-medical staff, sales people for God's sake to the mix is just appalling. The stories here are a national disgrace. Some are practically worthy of legal action.

I specifically wrote on the bottom of the form I was aggressively handed that 'I DO NOT CONSENT TO THIRD PARTY MARKETING' - they ignored this. Bastards.

The thing that bothered me most in the run up to my son's birth was the fact that the Bounty rep would be able to come & hassle me at times when even my family wouldn't be allowed on the ward. That's it for me really, they aren't medical staff but have access to patients as if they were.

I put on my birth plan that I wanted no contact from Bounty. The mw brought me a pack and that was it, no details changed hands. I'd do the same again.

I signed the campaign in the summer to remove the reps from hospitals and I stand by that.

Can I just say that, purely on the strength of mn, I told my German friend who recently gave birth here about Bounty. She was shocked but said later she was very glad she was prepared as they did presnt themselves as though they were HCAs, and basically tried to make out that because she was forrin she didn't understand the system and had to give them her details.

I believe she sent them packing rather energetically.....

I think the bounty photos look a bit cheap. I cant explain it, they just do.

I was terrorised by one just after having DS by c section, she pounced not long after I had my drain removed and was feeling a but nauseated by the pain. She demanded I answer her questionnaire, and asked what brand of disposable nappy I planned to use. I told her none, we used full time cloth. She found this quite incredible, and asked what I planned to use when we were on holiday etc. I told her cloth. Well, what will you use when not using cloth, she squeaked, annoyed. Just name a brand! We never use disposables, I said, I don't like them. BUT I CANT COMPLETE THE FORM IF YOU DONT NAME A BRAND, she growled. I smoked sweetly at her until she understood that this wasn't a problem I was willing to assist her with, and stalked off.

She seemed to find this even more annoying than a straight refusal. It's a worthwhile tactic if you want to fuck with them.

Smoked? Smiled!

They need to be banned. Wth are they doing on wards??

With DS one of them tried to barge in while I was still , shortly after my very traumatic labour and DS' resuscitation. How the fuck on earth she was allowed in there I don't know but after some swearing from me DH gave her his details to get rid of her the fool.

When I had DD last year I was at least on the post-natal ward before having a visit. The Bounty rep was most put out when I refused to give her a phone numbe or email address. She gave me that crap about how they were collecting name stats but didn't even bother writing DD's name down correctly

Ooh that should have been on the labour ward whoops

I'm ashamed to say that, even though I knew all about them and all about my rights, I still gave them my details. Because I was exhausted and emotional, and it seemed easier than having an argument. :(

I'm upset at myself, but I'm even more angry at them for trying to take advantage of women in this vulnerable state, and succeeding (in my case).

Like many others, I was tired and emotional and gave my details without thinking much of it.

Then the junk mail started arriving, including a free sample of baby rice when DD was less than 3 months which infuriated me as I strongly believe that babies should not be having anything but milk until at least 5 months, so that fact that they sending out free samples in the hope of encouraging early weaning is outrageous.

Was meant of had a home birth which didnt work out so the fact that, not only did I end up so far removed from what I'd hoped for, I also became just another target for this deceptive marketing scam feels another kick in the teeth.

Next time around I will be telling Bounty women where to shove her stupid marketing pack.

They are clearly only getting away with this because everyone is is too tired and preoccupied to give it a second thought until it is too late.

The Bounty ladies though do not just walk away and that is the main problem. They are able to give you a lot of grief before the leave as you are not able to move and walk away. THIS is the issue.

I only had a bad experience with Bounty when I declined to give them my details after the birth of my last child. Fortunately DH was there with me, but he had to be very rude to get her to leave. She was stood there insisting I should give her my details and when I politely declined told me I was a bad parents and suggested I didn't care about my new born baby. I can't remember the words exactly but it was "so you don't care about receiving valuable information about your baby then" and when I said no and started to feel a bit upset my DH stepped in and said "if you don't leave immediately I will call a member of staff" that she left muttering obscenities under her breath. I often wonder what would have happened if I had been on my own and DH wasn't with me and consequently what she did to other women on the labour ward who declined.

I should have reported it but I couldn't be bothered afterwards - I wish I had now.